Mitigate Environmental Stress and Enhance Crop Productivity

A field experiment was conducted during the wheat-growing season on a clay-loam soil to investigate the interaction between irrigation management, sowing dates, and winter wheat productivity. A split-plot design tested three planting dates (PD₁: 15 November, PD₂: 30 November, PD₃: 15 December) and three irrigation levels (Irr₁: five irrigations, Irr₂: four, Irr₃: three irrigations). Results revealed that early sowing (PD₁) under full irrigation (Irr₁) maximized grain yield (6.8 tons/ha) and 1000-grain weight (49.3 g) but required the highest water applied (5,608 m³/ha). Conversely, PD₃ with reduced irrigation (Irr₃) conserved water (3,282 m³/ha) but incurred yield penalties (4.6 t/ha grain). Critically, PD₂ under Irr₂ achieved 94% of PD₁’s yield with 18% less water, highlighting its viability for balancing productivity and sustainability. Water productivity (WP) improved under water-saving strategies, with PD₃Irr₃ yielding the highest WP (1.41 kg/m³). The findings underscore that planting date (mid-November) is more suitable for yield than maximal irrigation, offering actionable strategies for farmers in water-scarce regions to enhance climate resilience while safeguarding food security.